Senior Times - January 2022

DELIVERING NEWS TO MID-COLUMBIA SENIORS SINCE 1982

JANUARY 2022

Vol. 10 | Issue 1

Meals on Wheels restarting hot meal delivery this month

By Wendy Culverwell editor@tcjournal.biz

Mid-Columbia Meals on Wheels is kicking off the new year with a return to pre-Covid form: It resumes delivering hot meals to its elderly and homebound clients on Jan. 10.

It had hoped to restart weekday delivery of hot meals over the summer but shelved the plan when the delta variant sent local Covid-19 infection rates soaring. With infection rates remaining low in early December, officials are optimistic it will happen this time.

“I don’t want to jinx us, but I feel very confident that we will move to four days a week of hot meal delivery. We will go to five (days) if we get enough volunteers,” said Kristi Thien, nutrition services director for Senior Life Services Northwest.

The nonprofit administers Meals on Wheels services in the MidColumbia. It halted daily hot meal deliveries and closed its dining

Photo by Wendy Culverwell Kristi Thien, right, nutrition services director for Senior Life Resources Northwest, which operates Mid-Columbia Meals on Wheels, speaks at the dedication of a new office at its Richland campus while Nancy Aldrich, left, former board member, and David Sanford, center, current board president, look on. Meals on Wheels will resume daily hot meal deliveries on Jan. 10, 2022.

rooms early in the pandemic. It couldn’t take the risk of spreading Covid-19 to its older, often fragile,

clients, or to its volunteers, many of them seniors.

Pre-pandemic it delivered hot

meals each weekday, and two frozen ones to carry clients through the weekend.

The pandemic altered the logistics. Home clients still got seven meals, all frozen and delivered to their door in a single visit.

By late 2020, it was offering a hot meal to clients at a weekly drive-thru in its parking lot at the Richland Wye. That later grew to be a daily event. Thien said it has been a popular offering for those who can drive – many linger a few minutes to chat with volunteers and staff.

“For some of them, it is far less about getting a meal. It’s about getting out, getting in the car, getting dressed,” she said.

For those without transportation, the frozen meals were a godsend – at first.

People were nervous about being able to get food early in the pandemic and Meals on Wheels even

uMEALS ON WHEELS, Page 2

Longtime Kennewick company begins transition to third generation

By Laura Kostad for Senior Times

A third generation is poised to take over KIE Supply Corp., the iconic 67-year-old Kennewick business.

KIE, established in 1955 by Augustan Kittson Sr., is a longtime supplier of irrigation, plumbing, electrical, lighting, appliance and bathroom fixtures for contractors and DIYers through stores in Kennewick, Hermiston, Sunnyside and elsewhere.

Its gleaming fixtures sparkle on East Columbia Drive, near the cable

bridge.

KIE is currently helmed by Augustan “Gus” Kittson Jr., 66. He launched a three-year transition plan to turn it over to daughter, Amelia Kittson, 27, earlier this year by promoting her to vice president.

Named the Most Likely to Succeed when he graduated from Kennewick High School in 1973, Gus said he never doubted he’d make a career in the family business. Amelia, who graduated from Southridge High School, said she felt the same pull.

She decided to follow in her father’s footsteps while working there

during her sophomore year at Washington State University.

“That summer I was working in the warehouse supporting the over 100 other people we employ here and it was hot and I was soaked through with sweat and I thought, ‘I love this.’ And it dawned on me that this is where I wanted to be,” she said.

The moment of hard work reminded her of a photo of her father and his father working in the KIE warehouse.

In it, Augustan stands in the foreground while Gus mops the linoleum floor behind him. Gus said he

literally grew up in the business.

There are old family photos of him in his bassinet in the office.

The Kittson family celebrated its 200th year in the Pacific Northwest in 2018. Ancestor Bill Kittson came in 1818 to work for a forerunner of the Hudson’s Bay Company. They have moved around, but always called this home.

“Generations come and go. We’ve done well,” Gus said.

Always chasing opportunity

Augustan began the business as Kennewick Industrial and Electrical uKIE, Page 10

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Music store knows learning how to play makes life more fun

Page 3

MONTHLY QUIZ

AARP urges 2022 Legislature to act to support seniors

Page 7

How old is the Ed Hendler cable-stayed bridge connecting Pasco and Kennewick across the Columbia River?

ANSWER, PAGE 9

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2

SENIOR TIMES • JANUARY 2022

Farm Workers Clinic CEO resigns amid sexual harassment allegations 509-737-8778 509-737-8448 fax Mailing address: 8524 W. Gage Blvd., #A1-300 Kennewick, WA 99336 srtimes.com

STAFF Melanie Hair CEO 509-737-8778 ext. 5 melanie@tcjournal.biz Kristina Lord Publisher 509-737-8778 ext. 3 publisher@tcjournal.biz Wendy Culverwell Editor 509-737-8778 ext. 6 editor@tcjournal.biz Tiffany Lundstrom Advertising Director 509-737-8778 ext. 2 tiffany@tcjournal.biz Chad Utecht Advertising Account Manager 509-737-8778 ext. 1 chad@tcjournal.biz Vanessa Guzmán Graphic Designer 509-737-8778 ext. 4 ads@tcjournal.biz

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8524 W. Gage Blvd. #A1-300 Kennewick, WA 99336

By Senior Times staff

Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic’s longtime CEO Carlos Olivares resigned from his position amid an investigation of sexual harassment allegations, the organization announced Dec. 10.

His resignation took effect Dec. 4, a week before the nonprofit agency announced the news.

The Yakima Valley Farm Workers said in a release that it recently became aware of serious allegations of sexual harassment against Olivares. He was placed on administrative leave pending an investigation. But before any findings or conclusions were reached, he resigned, the agency said.

Olivares worked for the clinic for 35 years, after being recruited by the organization in 1986. He earned a base salary of more than $543,749 in 2019, according to the clinic’s IRS 990 tax

uBRIEF How many Tri-Citians are there? Here’s the latest

There were 305,223 people living in the greater Tri-Cities in November, according to updated population figures released by the state Office of Financial Management in December.

The latest stats show Benton MEALS ON WHEELS, From page 1 added toilet paper to its deliveries.

But demand tapered as the pandemic wore on. The rotation of about 30 frozen meals grew tiresome and calls for hot meals came in.

“It’s what the seniors want. Quite a few have dropped off the program waiting for the hot meals to come back. They are understandably tired of frozen meals,” she said.

Thien said the dining rooms will remain closed for the time being.

They are well stocked with personal protective equipment, but organizers don’t believe the time is right yet.

But she is thrilled to resume hot meal delivery.

Senior Life Resources is one of the few Meals on Wheels program to deliver hot meals, a costly logistical challenge that involves heating packs and strict compliance with food safety regulations.

Meals on Wheels is more than food, it is human contact and a social outlet.

The program monitors the welfare of seniors who might be overlooked.

return. His total compensation amounted to more than $1 million, after earning $461,258 in bonus and incenCarlos Olivares tive pay, retirement and other reportable compensation.

The Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business, a sister publication to Senior Times, profiled Olivares in a February 2020 Q&A feature: tricitiesbusinessnews.com/2020/02/carlos-olivares.

The clinic recently opened the Miramar Health Center, a $20 million facility at 6351 W. Rio Grande Ave. near Vista Field in Kennewick.

CFO Christy Trotter has been appointed interim CEO. Trotter has worked for the organization for more than 25 years. The leadership team

is united in its focus on transparency and continuation of service during this transition, the organization said.

“We expect no disruption in operations or services as we continue to care for our patients and clients,” the agency said.

Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, provides medical, dental, behavioral health and social services to more than 171,000 people a year. With more than 60 unique service locations across Oregon and Washington (Benton, Franklin, Spokane, Whitman, Walla Walla and Yakima counties), its goal is to deliver affordable, comprehensive primary care for underserved populations.

The clinic employs more than 1,600 staff, in addition to its medical and dental residents, administrative fellows, students and volunteers.

County had 209,400 residents, with more than 82% living in one of the county’s five cities – Benton City, Kennewick, Prosser, Richland and West Richland.

Franklin County had 98,350 residents, with nearly 86% living in one of its four cities – Connell, Kahlotus, Mesa and Pasco.

The populations for individual cities, with their rank in the state in parenthesis, were:

Benton City, 3,500 (133); Connell, 5,125 (121); Kahlotus, 145 (275); Kennewick, 84,620 (6); Mesa, 390 (247) Pasco, 78,700 (16); Prosser 6,130 (116); Richland, 61,320 (21) and West Richland, 17,070 (63) Washington had 7.76 million residents, with 65% living in cities.

Go to: bit.ly/ WaNov2021Population.

She said a longtime volunteer who was forced to stop for safety reasons recently reported rescuing a woman who had been on the ground for 30 hours, a moving experience that reminded her of the value of inperson contact.

“Those home visits were important to (volunteers) and seniors,” she said.

Meals on Wheels filled the gap with a phone buddy program to maintain contact with clients.

Talking on the phone isn’t the same as in-person visits, but it has been valuable.

A client told her phone buddy she was about to have her power cut off. Senior Life Resources connected her with help to prevent it.

“If that phone buddy hadn’t intervened, it might have happened. A vulnerable senior would have been without power,” she said. In another instance, a client contacted her phone buddy instead of police when her home was broken into.

Senior Life Resources is celebrating more than the return of hot meal deliveries. Its 6,100-square-foot new building in Richland was close enough to completion in mid-

December to warrant a low-key ribbon-cutting.

The agency used the occasion to celebrate its recent Excellence in Action award from the Washington Council on Aging and its sister agency’s benchmark year. Home Care Services recorded 1 million service hours in 2021.

It also dedicated a monument to the late Don Pratt, the builder and one-time Tri-Citian of the Year who was a marquee supporter of Meals on Wheels and a regular driver as well. His company Pratt & Co., the construction company he founded, is building the $1.6 million building, which will accommodate growth and provide staff with more room to spread out, a need that was driven home by the pandemic.

Senior Life Resources operates in eight counties, runs Home Care Services and Mid-Columbia Meals on Wheels, with local sites in Prosser, Connell and Kennewick.

In addition to donations, the biggest need is volunteers.

To learn more, go to seniorliferesources.org or call 509-735-1911.

SENIOR TIMES • JANUARY 2022

3

Music store knows learning how to play makes life more fun

By Jeff Morrow for Senior Times

Music has always played a major part in the lives of Bobbi and David Dickerson, even before they married three years ago.

David, 68, ran Dickerson’s Piano Service company. Bobbi, 64, is a retired school teacher who has given countless piano lessons.

Together, they run Tri-City Music, a Richland store where musicians can buy or rent pianos, attend recitals or listen to concerts — either in the store or live on Facebook.

The couple bought Tri-City Music in 2019 from Allan Willis, who operated it for years after buying it from founder Fred Von Gogh.

Their musical history

David comes from a long line of piano tuners, beginning in Arkansas.

“Our family has been tuning pianos since 1875,” he said. “That’s six generations.”

The family moved to the Tri-Cities in 1963. David spent half his high school career in Richland, then moved with his family to Walla Walla.

He majored in voice in college, but embarked on a wide-ranging career that included auto body repair and residential real estate.

Both experiences helped prepare him to run Tri-City Music.

“It all helped me in this business,” he said. “As an auto body repairman, I learned about details. In real estate, I learned about communicating with people. All of these things helped me in business.”

He continues to tune pianos, which need the service yearly.

His father, Bill Dickerson, 88, is his assistant, scheduling the tune-ups.

“I do a lot of work at schools, and a lot of churches,” he said.

His wife is another Richland resident and knew Dave through the music community.

He was a widower and she was divorced.

A mutual friend introduced them, leading to a blended family with five sons – three for her and two for him.

Bobbi taught school in New Mexico and then Oregon for 40 years before retiring in 2018. She kept up her piano lessons though.

“I teach one day a week here in the store and three days a week in our home studio,” she said. “I’m a teacher at heart. I love to see a kid progress and have that aha moment, with the realization in their face of ‘Look what

Photo by Jeff Morrow Employees Lydia Dillsworth, from left, and Lisa Ortiz, stand next to TriCity Music owners Bobbi and Dave Dickerson. The Richland store is a place where people can buy or rent pianos, attend recitals, or listen to concerts to share the joy of music.

I can do!’”

She’s also had parents come to recitals, watch their children and then sign up for lessons for themselves.

“I’ve got three sets of parents-children who are taking lessons now,” Bobbi said. “I’ve also got students in their 70s. I firmly believe in lifelong learning.”

Making music together

Dave’s previous wife died from cancer.

Bobbi and her now ex-husband raised their kids in New Mexico and later on the Oregon Coast.

“A mutual friend of Dave and mine got us together,” she said.

At first, Dave would visit Bobbi in Tillamook, on the Oregon Coast, and the pair bonded over their shared love of music.

“Whether it’s music lessons or piano lessons, I’ve been doing them since I was 7,” Bobbi said. “Music has always been a part of my life. Music has been a part of our lives forever.

“Both Dave and I in our younger years — and in fact, Dave is doing it now — directed church choirs,” Bobbi said.

Both believe in the power of music to boost academic performance and physical health. Both raised their sons with music.

“It’s been proven that kids who take music lessons do better in the classroom in many subjects, including math.

It enhances their lives,” Bobbi said.

According to the National Piano Foundation, “middle school and high school students who participated in instrumental music scored significantly higher than their non-band peers in standardized tests.”

The store

The Dickersons carry popular and prestigious piano brands at Tri-City Music, including Samick, Steinway and Yamaha.

Grand pianos, digital, upright, new and used are spread throughout the store. And David says if they don’t have it, they’ll find it.

“We support the music community,” he said. “If we don’t have what they want, we send the customer to a store that does have it. We want piano sales to stay in the Tri-Cities.”

The store soon will debut a new name: Dickerson’s Tri-City Piano.

“That’ll probably happen after the first of the year,” David said.

He and Bobbi want customers to know they own the store, and they also don’t want to confuse customers who come into the store looking for a saxophone or guitar or other instrument that isn’t a piano.

But piano sales seem to be making a comeback nationally, courtesy the pandemic and the shutdowns that ended live concerts.

New piano sales remain far below the national peak of 364,000 sold in 1909, when access to music was far more restricted than it is now, according to a 2020 New York Times story.

But Americans bought about 30,000 new acoustic pianos last year, an unexpected surge reported across multiple brands. The number that topped a million when digital pianos were counted, the report said.

Tri-City Music confirms sales are growing.

“When we started,” Bobbi said, “our monthly goal was four pianos.

Then it was eight, then 12.”

On the day of this interview, Black Friday, they sold three pianos at TriCity Music.

The pandemic also has created business.

“Kids have got to have something to do,” David said. “So maybe they start piano lessons. And I think it’s trending up.”

The Christmas season can get busy, Bobbi said.

“It starts in November, when families get together. We get pretty busy from mid-November through the end of December. Summer isn’t too bad either, because the kids are home for the summer.”

David said pianos are a year-round business.

“What we have found in both tuning and Christmas is that it stays busy,” he said.

The store holds weekly mini-concerts that have fueled interest.

Every Friday at noon, it holds a mini concert that can be viewed on Facebook.

“It’s been one of my desires since we opened the store. I believe people want to play music. And I believe that people want to hear music,” David said. uTRI-CITY MUSIC, Page 6

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SENIOR TIMES • JANUARY 2022

CALENDAR OF EVENTS JAN. 7-8

• Richland Players present, “Wait Until Dark” by Frederick Knott: 7:30 p.m., 608 The Parkway, Richland.

Tickets: richlandplayers.org.

JAN. 7

• Tri-City Americans vs. Seattle Thunderbirds: 7:05 p.m., Toyota Center, 7000 W. Grandridge Blvd., Kennewick. Tickets: amshockey.com.

All fans age 12 and over required to provide proof of vaccination or proof of a negative Covid-19 test, taken in the 72 hours before the game.

JAN. 8

• Tri-City Family Expo Kick-Off Party: 5-7 p.m., Gesa Carousel of Dreams, 2901-F Southridge Blvd., Kennewick. Meet Jack Sparrow, food, face painting and games. Cost: $15 per child, parents free. Tickets: TcFamilyExpo.com.

• Tri-City Americans vs. Everett Silvertips, 7:05 p.m., Toyota Center, 7000 W. Grandridge Blvd., Kennewick.

Tickets: amshockey.com. All fans age 12 and over required to provide proof of vaccination or proof of a negative Covid-19 test, taken in the 72 hours before the game.

JAN. 9

• Richland Players present, “Wait Until Dark” by Frederick Knott: 2

p.m., 608 The Parkway, Richland.

Tickets: richlandplayers.org.

JAN. 11

• 10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s: 1-2:30 p.m., virtual talk.

Call 509-943-8455 or register online at kadlec.org/KNRC. • PNNL, “Contributions to Biomedical Research: Better Treatment Through Better Understanding”: 5 p.m., via Zoom.

Details at pnnl.gov/events.

• “Waitress - Broadway”: 7 p.m., Toyota Center, 7000 W. Grandridge Blvd., Kennewick. Tickets: yourtoyotacenter.com. Proof of a negative test or Covid-19 vaccination to attend.

JAN. 14-15

• Richland Players present, “Wait Until Dark” by Frederick Knott: 7:30 p.m., 608 The Parkway, Richland.

Tickets: richlandplayers.org.

JAN. 14

• AACCES Art Show: 6-10 p.m.

The Space, 1384 Jadwin Ave., Richland. The African American Community, Cultural, and Education Society (AACCES), in partnership with DrewBoy Creative, offers an evening of art, music, poetry and more. Free.

JAN. 16

• Richland Players present, “Wait

Bring your grandchildren and families to events with a star. ✪ Until Dark” by Frederick Knott: 2 p.m., 608 The Parkway, Richland.

Tickets: richlandplayers.org.

JAN. 19

• MTHFR with Dr. Rawlins: 5-6:30 p.m., virtual event. Call 509-943-8455 or register online at kadlec.org/KNRC.

JAN. 20

• Callaway Gardens Senior Resource Luncheon: 11:30 a.m., South Hills Church, 3700 W. 27th Ave., Kennewick. Lunch provided. Call 509-405-0943 to RSVP.

JAN. 21

• Tri-City Americans vs. Portland Winterhawks: 7:05 p.m., Toyota Center, 7000 W. Grandridge Blvd., Kennewick. Tickets: amshockey.com.

All fans age 12 and over required to provide proof of vaccination or proof of a negative Covid-19 test, taken in the 72 hours before the game.

JAN. 21-22

• Richland Players present, “Wait Until Dark” by Frederick Knott: 7:30 p.m., 608 The Parkway, Richland.

Tickets: richlandplayers.org.

JAN. 21-23

• 28th annual Tri-Cities Sportsmen Show: HAPO Center, 6600 Burden Blvd., Pasco. Friday,

Jan. 21, 1-7 p.m.; Saturday, Jan. 22, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sunday, Jan. 23, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Cost: $6 for seniors 60+ on Friday, Jan. 21. Regular admission: $11. Tickets: shuylerproductions.com/tri-cities.

JAN. 22

• Tri-City Americans vs. Spokane Chiefs: 7:05 p.m., Toyota Center, 7000 W. Grandridge Blvd., Kennewick.

Tickets: amshockey.com. All fans age 12 and over required to provide proof of vaccination or proof of a negative Covid-19 test, taken in the 72 hours before the game.

JAN. 23

• Richland Players present, “Wait Until Dark” by Frederick Knott: 2 p.m., 608 The Parkway, Richland.

Tickets: richlandplayers.org.

• Harlem Globetrotters, 3 p.m., Toyota Center, 7000 W. Grandridge Blvd., Kennewick. Tickets: yourtoyotacenter.com. Proof of a negative test or Covid-19 vaccination to attend.

JAN. 27

• Mid-Columbia Libraries, virtual author visit with Erin Entrada Kelly: 1-1:30 p.m. Details at midcolumbialibraries.org/events.

SENIOR TIMES • JANUARY 2022

5

To survive a house fire, lose that Christmas tree and make a plan

Imagine being awakened from a deep sleep by the beeping of your smoke alarm.

You sit up and the smell of smoke is clearly in the air. Something is burning somewhere in your home and now you must get yourself and your family to safety. You don’t have much time either, since fires double in size every 30 seconds.

And, of course, age and infirmity can make escape more challenging for seniors.

Would you know how to respond to a fire in your home? Do you have working smoke alarms in place to alert you to the danger?

This is the season to be wary since home fires are most common in wintertime. Christmas is over but the threat of a holiday fire is not. A third of all Christmas tree fires occur in January.

Fortunately, there is plenty of advice to help you cope with a fire in the home, starting with recommendations from Ben Shearer, community risk reduction specialist with the Pasco Fire Department.

Shearer advises having a plan in advance.

The first critical step is making sure you’re alerted to fire as early as possible. Working smoke alarms are key.

“You have a lot more time to respond to a fire if you have a working smoke alarm in your home,” Shearer said.

Your local fire department can help you position the alarms where they will do the most good.

As a rule, you want an alarm in every room where someone is sleeping, one outside the general sleeping area and at least one on each floor.

Check the batteries at least twice a year, typically when the clocks change at the switch to and from daylight time.

A smoke alarm with dead batteries can be worse than no alarm at all

since you think you are protected but aren’t.

Visit redcross.org/ nwhomefire or call 833-918Gordon Williams 1531 to learn American Red Cross about smoke GUEST COLUMN alarm programs in your area.

Being older, some of us would have issues that would keep us from hearing the sound of a smoke alarm. There are alarms available that flash a strobe light or shake your bed or pillow when the alarm goes off.

Your fire department can help you locate such alarms.

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), a nonprofit organization that works to reduce death, injury and financial loss due to fire, has plenty of recommendations at nfpa.org/disabilities.

Once the alarm sounds, you may have as little as two minutes to get to safety.

The more effectively you have planned an escape route and the more you practice using it, the better your chances of making it to safety.

Shearer offers the reminder that “your escape plan has to involve everyone in the house, including kids and older folks.”

Start by mapping out at least two escape routes from every room in the house. One way out is likely to be a door while the fallback could be a window.

Make sure everyone in the household knows how to exit each room quickly. Then practice escaping until it becomes second nature. The aim is to reprogram your muscle memory so normal routines are superseded by the emergency routines you must follow to escape a fire.

The next step is to remember this

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four-word catchphrase: “Close while you doze.” That is to remind you to keep all bedroom doors closed while you are asleep.

Firefighters talk about a fire’s “flow path.”

That is the flow of smoke, fumes and flames from the ignition point through your home. Shearer said that closing even an ordinary bedroom door can disrupt that flow path enough to keep the fire from reaching you.

The temperature could be 1,000 degrees on the fire side of the bedroom door and 100 degrees inside the bedroom.

“100 degrees is hot but survivable, but 1,000 degrees will kill you,” Shearer said.

The next step is to make a quick determination of how you will respond to a fire, following your escape route to safety or sheltering in place until the fire department arrives and leads you to safety.

If you can shelter in place safely, do so. That’s especially true if you or someone else in the household has disabilities that would make escape dicey.

Even if the bedroom door appears to offer a way out, don’t just open the door until you have done a safety check. Hold the back of your hand against the door.

“If it feels cool, open the door a bit to see if you can get out to safety,” Shearer said.

If the door is hot, or if you are uncertain of making it to safety for any reason, then concentrate on making yourself as safe as possible where you are and wait to be rescued.

Circumstances will determine whether you flee or stay, but Shearer says his department has been trying to train people to shelter in place when possible.

Of course, for older folks, or those with disabilities, the balance will most often fall on the side of sheltering in place.

The trick to sheltering in place, Shearer says, is to “create “as much of a safety area as possible.’’

Block that flow path by putting wet towels or garments at the base of the door to close the gap. Close and block all vents and openings that might allow smoke and toxic fumes into the room. Keeping all windows closed will keep the draft from an open window from sucking smoke and fire into the room.

Fires feed on oxygen and keeping windows closed will stop the flow of outside air into the house.

“You want to create as much of an area of refuge as you can,” Shearer says.

Getting everyone to safety is always your first priority.

If you can escape, get everyone out of the fire building and then call 911.

If you are sheltering in place, call 911 since you will be counting on responders to carry you to safety.

Keep windows closed as you wait for rescue, but stand near the window so the responders can see where you are.

Know in advance how to call for help.

The better you explain your situation to the 911 dispatcher, the sooner uHOUSE FIRE, Page 6

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SENIOR TIMES • JANUARY 2022 TRI-CITY MUSIC, From page 3

The mini concerts are scheduled about a month out.

That includes using the recital studio.

“We invite any music or piano teachers to use our recital studio,” added Bobbi.

And the beat goes on

Both Bobbi and David credit their three employees for the store’s success – Lydia Dillsworth, Lisa Ortiz and Ana Newcomer.

“I mean everybody (all local piano teachers) is full,” Bobbi said. “I’ve got 31 students. That’s five hours a day, four days a week. That’s enough for me right there.”

Bobbi said she and David complement each other.

HOUSE FIRE, From page 5

rescuers can arrive on the scene. The dispatcher will ask the nature of the emergency, whether people are safely outside or will need to be rescued.

The dispatcher will ask for an accurate address, so make sure the information you give them is both complete and accurate.

The dispatcher will see your calling phone number and the address associated with that phone number. But Shearer cautions, “the address they have for you is only as accurate as your listed phone records. If you have moved, responders could go to the wrong address.”

Your cellphone might not link to your home address.

Having a phone next to your bed can quicken the response to any emergency, fire- or health-related.

“Both of us are achievers,” she said. “He keeps busy tuning pianos.

I stay busy teaching piano lessons. I help him where I can with the business. He runs the business. I pay the bills.”

They have no plans to retire just yet.

Together, with their attitudes, this whole music thing has worked out to be a No. 1 hit.

“I’m serving people when I go out every day,” Dave said. “This is too much fun. Life is more fun when you know how to play.” search Tri-City Music: 1330 Jadwin Ave., Uptown Shopping Center, Richland; 509-713-7288; tri-citymusic.com.

For Dickerson’s Piano Service, call 509-547-5471.

Everyone in the home should know how to make a 911 call. When training young children, refer to it as nineone-one, not nine-eleven, so they don’t waste time trying to find an eleven on the phone dial.

Once you do call, stay on the line with the dispatcher until fire units arrive at your home.

Will firefighters know which house is yours as they approach the scene?

Every home should have a visible, well-lighted house number so help can reach you. There is only so much you can do on your own in a fire.

Ultimately you want responders on scene as quickly as possible, the key there is making sure they know the quickest route to your front door. Gordon Williams is a volunteer with the American Red Cross’ Northwest Regional Communications Team.

SENIOR TIMES • JANUARY 2022

7

AARP urges 2022 Legislature to act to support seniors No one could have predicted that the lingering yet devastating impacts of the Covid crisis would still be with us as we enter the 2022 legislative session, which begins Jan. 10.

While the Legislature will meet in person, AARP, advocates and consumers will continue to use the virtual tools to engage on issues impacting those 50 and older. AARP is actively supporting legislation to help older Washingtonians stay in their own homes and preserve as much of their income as possible.

WA Cares Fund

In a recent survey, a majority of Washington voters support the new Washington Cares Fund program, and support continues to increase as people learn more about the program benefits.

The same survey also revealed that 75% of Washingtonians believe Medicare will pay for a stay in a nursing home. The Legislature will continue to make improvements to the program, exploring benefits for near retirees, excluding out-of-state residents who work in Washington, and exempting military families.

The program could not come soon enough as families face the financial implications of caring for someone with a long-term illness or injury.

Cathy MacCaul AARP

GUEST COLUMN

Gov. Jay Inslee delayed implementation of the program, including employment tax, to give the Legislature time to address concerns.

Prescription drugs

Americans pay more for prescription drugs than any other nation in the world.

To cover the skyrocketing costs, they skimp on food or other health care costs. Curbing escalating prescription drug prices is a top priority for AARP. It is, again, backing a measure that would create a Prescription Drug Affordability Board to evaluate prices and set limits on what individuals and state agencies must pay.

In 2020, Inslee vetoed a similar bill passed by the Legislature due to the unknown burdens of the coronavirus pandemic and its impact to the state budget.

Personal needs allowance

About 50,000 Washingtonians receive Medicaid-funded in-home care

services.

Each individual is required to contribute a co-pay for the services. The amount is calculated by taking their income and subtracting what’s known as a personal needs allowance (PNA) to cover household costs, such as rent and utilities.

The rest of their income goes toward the home care services.

The current PNA is $1,074 per month yet the average monthly cost of living for older Washingtonians in 2020 was roughly $2,900. Legislation is being proposed to raise the PNA amount to $2,382.

Housing

An AARP survey shows 75% of adults age 50 and older want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.

By 2030, the state will face a severe shortage of affordable, accessible housing – think homes without stairs or huge yards to maintain – for those on fixed incomes.

Accessory dwelling units, also known as backyard cottages, can create convenient opportunities to provide a home for a loved one needing care or for a caregiver while also increasing the dwindling housing supply.

Legislation will give municipalities the

ability to develop housing designs for these kinds of units that fit seamlessly into the community.

Technology

Now more than ever, people are reliant on technology to help them live, work, learn and connect with friends and family.

Unfortunately, we also know that there are great inequalities in access to high-speed affordable internet, especially for low-income older adults.

Equally as important are the technology services and supports for older adults to help them thrive in the digital world and use technology to improve their social engagement, financial security, civic participation, health and creativity. AARP is working on legislation to advance technology usage among older adults as well as help protect them from frauds and scams.

While this is an ambitious agenda for our short session, AARP continues to seek improvements in policy and legislation to benefit current and future generations of older adults, reflecting our founders’ vision of “what we do; we do for all.”

Go to aarp.org/wa. Cathy MacCaul is advocacy director for AARP Washington.

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Journal of Business

The Senior Times is filled with local news, finance, health information, events and more – focused on those 60 and older.

8

SENIOR TIMES • JANUARY 2022

SENIOR ACTIVITIES Pasco First Avenue Center 505 N. First Ave., Pasco 509-545-3459 pascoparksandrec.com

• Billiards: 9 a.m.-noon. Monday; 1:30-4 p.m. Wednesdays; 9 a.m.noon, 1:30-4 p.m. Fridays.

• Mexican Train Dominoes: 1:30-3:30 p.m. Mondays.

• Pinochle: 1:30-4 p.m. Tuesdays.

• China Painting: 9 a.m.-noon.

Wednesdays.

Kennewick Community Center

500 S. Auburn St., Kennewick 509-585-4303 go2kennewick.com

• Bunco: 1-3 p.m. Fridays. Cost: $1 per day.

• Bridge: 12:30-4 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. Cost: $1 per day.

• Chinese Mahjong: 1-3 p.m.

Wednesdays. Cost: $1 per day.

• Dominos: 12:30-2 p.m. Tuesdays and Fridays. Cost: $1 per day.

• Pinochle: 12:30-4 p.m. Mondays,

Wednesdays and Thursdays. Cost: $1 per day.

• Creative Palette Art: 9 a.m.noon, Tuesdays.

• Sewing: 1-4 p.m. Tuesdays.

• Woodcarving: 1-3 p.m. Wednesdays. Cost: $1 per day. 9 a.m.-noon Fridays. Bring supplies or borrow from the class.

• Billiards: Daily. $2 per day or $20 monthly pass.

Richland Community Center

500 Amon Drive, Richland 509-942-7529 ci.richland.wa.us

• Fitness Room: 8 a.m.-9 p.m.

Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturdays and noon-4 p.m.

Sundays. Location: Fitness room.

Cost: $2 per day or $8 per month.

• Billiards: Daily. $2 per day.

• Greeting Card Recycling: 1-3 a.m. Tuesdays. Cost: free.

• Pinochle Players: 6-8:30 p.m.

Fridays. Location: game room.

Cost: $1.

• Party Bridge: 8:30-11:30 a.m.

Mondays and Wednesdays. Location: game room. Cost: $1.

• Senior Duplicate Bridge: 12:303:30 p.m., Mondays and Wednesdays. Location: game room.

• Table Tennis: 6:30-8:45 p.m., Mondays and Wednesdays, 12:303:45 p.m. Sundays.

Prosser Senior Community Center

1231 Dudley Ave., Prosser 509-786-2915 cityofprosser.com

• Pool: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. MondaysFriday. Cost: free. Location: pool room, membership is required.

• Mah Jong: 1-3 p.m. Tuesdays Location: living room. Membership is required.

• Daytime Bingo: 9 a.m.

Wednesday. Location: dining room Cost: 3 cards/$1.

• Evening Bingo: First Friday of every month. 6 p.m., starting Jan. 7.

Cost: $10. Location: dining room • Foot Care: Second Wednesday of each month: Appointments can be made by calling Melidee, 509-7901905.

• Pinochle: 1 p.m. Thursdays, starting Jan. 13. Location: living room, membership is required.

• Crafts: 1-3 p.m. Tuesdays.

Register by calling 509-786-2915.

• Bunco: Third Friday of month.

6 p.m., starting Jan. 21. Cost is $2 per person. Location: dining room.

• All You Can Eat Community Breakfast: Last Sunday every month, 8-11:30 a.m. Location: dining room. Cost: Suggested donation $7 per person and $3 per child, 8 and under.

West Richland Senior Center

616 N. 60th, West Richland 509-967-2847

• Bunco Potluck: noon, first Wednesday and third Friday of the month.

SENIOR TIMES • JANUARY 2022

Just for Fun

Crossword

Across 1 “Summertime” singer --Fitzgerald 5 Long for 10 Quick look 11 Diddy record label 12 Constant 14 Long-leaved lettuce 15 Baby weight units 16 It’s boring to be stuck in one 17 Cosmetic ingredient, often 19 Audition sample 20 Can cause temporary blindness 21 Drones might attack you here 22 Some docs’ degs 23 Bond’s M

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Solutions on page 11

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Rules of Sudoku - To complete Sudoku, fill the board by entering numbers 1 to 9 such that each row, column and 3x3 box contains ever number uniquely.

For more strategies, hints and tips, visit www.sudokuwiki.org and www.str8ts.com.

To complete Sudoku, fill the board by entering To complete Sudoku, fill the board by entering numbers 1 to 9 such that each row, column and 3x3 and Jan. 14: “Sanford and Son” premiered on 3x3 numbers 1 to 9 such that each row, column box contains every number uniquely. box contains every number uniquely.

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Str8ts and other puzzles, check out our If you like Str8ts and other puzzles, check out our 4books, iPhone/iPad Apps and much more on our store.

Jan. 25: Shirley Chisholm, the first books, iPhone/iPad Apps and much more on our store. black woman to be elected to Congress, represented New York’s 12th Congressional District.

ANSWER Quiz answer from Page 1

The Ed Hendler Bridge is now 44 years old. It was dedicated

by Washington Gov. Dixie Lee Ray on Sept. 16, 1978.

— Source: East Benton County Historical Society and Museum

10

SENIOR TIMES • JANUARY 2022

KIE, From page 1

Supply Co., bringing his experience as a military electrician to the booming post-war era. He’d served in the Army Corps of Electricians during World War II, tasked with overseeing the electricians working on the new Hanford facilities.

After he completed his service, he found a lucrative opportunity in buying Army surplus electrical components at auction.

“The boxes had all this weird code printed on them that only electricians in the Army could decipher,” Amelia said. “He scored killer deals and sold the parts at a profit while still passing on discounted prices to his customers.”

As time went on and the business grew, Augustan and his team recognized opportunities to expand beyond electrical supplies and begin catering to homeowners. In the late 1970s, Hermiston Electric and Plumbing opened across the Columbia River in Oregon, originally as a standalone corporation.

Next came the Walla Walla location in 1991, followed by another in La Grande, Oregon, in 1999.

In the early 2000s, the company’s name was formally changed to KIE Supply Corporation, and the Hermiston location came under the KIE umbrella.

KIE’s Sunnyside location opened in 2008 and this past year saw the opening of its sixth location, in Caldwell, Idaho.

Though all locations carry a large inventory of components, along with some appliances and fixtures (more available by order), the Kennewick showrooms remain the largest.

Despite the economic downturn of the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent supply chain disruptions, Amelia said, “interestingly enough, we’ve seen massive growth, which is reflective of this community as a whole. The building and construction industries have gone through the roof and we’ve seen that reflect-

ed in our business.”

KIE has semitruck loads of product tied up in the backlog but it is in better shape than its chain store competition because it stocks a lot of products.

Chain retailers rely on centralized warehousing to ship out expanded product offerings not stocked in store.

“It’s more expensive to have high inventory, but it translates to convenience for customers. It’s part of our value proposition,” she said, adding it enabled KIE to supply customer needs during turbulent times.

Another advantage is the longevity of KIE employees.

“That’s our niche in the market … it comes down to our product knowledge because we have people who have been here for 15, 20, 30 and 40-plus years,” she said.

She said it is common for customers to come in with a sketch of an unusual or antiquated setup seeking obscure parts or a second opinion on how to go about fixing it.

KIE is proud of the community of contractors, repair professionals and DIY folks they’ve attracted over the years who are willing to help one another out.

Photo by Wendy Culverwell Amelia Kittson and her father Gus Kittson stand inside KIE Supply Corp., which started in downtown Kennewick in 1955. It has expanded over the years to carry irrigation, plumbing, electrical, decorative lighting, bathroom fixtures and appliances. Amelia works alongside her dad to prepare for her future role as the next-generation leader of the company.

The next generation

Amelia was promoted to vice president after completing her MBA through the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s School of Business Grainger Center’s Supply Chain Management program.

She was the recipient of a rare fellowship, including full-ride scholarship, from The Grainger Foundation to attend. She worked remotely for KIE during the two years she was away, attending school full time and juggling 300-level teaching responsibilities.

This year is her 10th with the company.

“Grad school … was important to me as a woman in a vastly maledominated industry and it lent some credentials. It was a wonderful pro-

Courtesy KIE Supply Gus Kittson, age 9, stands in front of his dad’s store at 113 E. Columbia Drive, Kennewick in May 1964. He launched a three-year transition plan to turn it over to daughter, Amelia Kittson, 27, earlier this year by promoting her to vice president.

gram and I learned so many things.

It was a really specialized experience,” she said.

Now back home at KIE’s corporate offices in Kennewick, she is working closely alongside Gus on a succession plan for when he is ready to step down.

“It’s pretty much what I do, what keeps me busy, keeps me up at night … I see so much potential,” Amelia said.

“I think part of it is continuing to expand as we go and continuing to bring our customer service to more areas. Part of it for me is, whatever we do, continuing to live by what my grandfather started; we’re going to take care of our people and make sure they know that we care.”

Amid the labor shortage, KIE is hiring for numerous positions, in-

cluding entry-level jobs in counter sales, warehousing, and delivery driving.

Benefits include paid time off; sick leave; full medical, dental, vision and life insurance; 100% 401(k) matching for first 3%, 50% for the next 3%; retention bonuses; an employee discount; and small personal loans for employees.

“These are all things we can do as a small, private business that we couldn’t do if we were big,” Amelia said. search KIE Supply Corporation: 113 E. Columbia Drive, Kennewick, 509-582-5156, 1-800-544-5156; kiesupply.com; Website lists locations for stores in Sunnyside, Walla Walla, Hermiston and La Grande, Oregon, and Caldwell, Idaho.

SENIOR TIMES • JANUARY 2022

11

West Richland plans to turn traffic circle into traffic signals

By Kristina Lord

Plans are underway to replace a traffic circle with traffic lights at a key intersection connecting Richland to West Richland.

The city of West Richland wants to remove the circle where Bombing Range and Keene roads intersect to reduce backups and delays.

Designed in 2001, the traffic circle was intended to last 20 years and is approaching the end of its life cycle.

“Once complete, it should reduce travel times during our peak hours,” said West Richland Mayor Brent Gerry during a State of the Cities talk at the Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Traffic backups are common during morning and evening commutes.

And they have been becoming lengthier and longer as more development pops up along Keene Road and beyond, west of the traffic circle: the city’s municipal services building, Richland School District’s Libby Middle School and Teaching, Learning and Administration Center, SunMarket and Firehouse Subs.

And more traffic is coming.

West Richland’s police station is scheduled to open at 7920 W. Van Giesen St., near the intersection with Keene, this month, with a community open house planned Jan. 25.

The nearby Heights at Red Mountain Ranch housing development at full buildout is expected to add 2,249 more residents.

Growth in the Badger Mountain South development off Dallas Road

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Courtesy city of West Richland This rendering shows the proposed intersection improvements at Bombing Range and Keene roads in West Richland.

also funnels vehicles into the traffic circle.

“I’d say you’ve got 12,000 people a day going through the intersection in 2021. We’re just getting back up to 2018 numbers. Traffic is coming back but I don’t think we’ve got everyone commuting yet. There’s still a lot of people working from home,” said Roscoe Slade III, the city’s public works director.

The pandemic bought the city

some time for planning the redesign.

“But now schools are open and now people are seeing it. And now people

are saying, ‘Hurry up, what’s taking so long?” Slade said. uTRAFFIC CIRCLE, Page 12

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SENIOR TIMES • JANUARY 2022

TRAFFIC CIRCLE, From page 11

How to pay for it?

Next on the city’s to-do list is finding a way to pay for the $3.3 million project.

The city applied for a $3 million grant from the state Transportation Improvement Board (TIB) but wasn’t chosen.

TIB awarded 136 street and multimodal improvement grants across the state totaling over $99 million on Nov. 19.

“TIB grant funding is highly competitive and rarely is a project funded on the first application attempt.

We will continue applying for both state and federal grant funding in 2022 as opportunities become available to secure funding for the construction of the project,” Slade said.

The city plans to complete the design for the project and acquire the necessary road right of way, which is scheduled to be completed in the first quarter of 2022.

What’s wrong with circle?

In fall 2020, the city hired JUB Engineering in Kennewick to do a planning analysis of the intersection,

looking out 20 years, Slade said.

“They considered all options, including a metering signal or a double-lane roundabout,” he said.

The city decided on traffic lights because such an intersection would be safer for pedestrians, didn’t negatively impact the adjacent property owners and was the preference of Benton Fire District 4.

A handful of people spent 10 minutes during the city council’s Feb. 2 public hearing expressing concern about the plan, citing concerns about safety and noise.

“People are very passionate about roundabouts – or they hate them.

There’s not a lot of in between,” Slade said.

When the city gets to work on redesigning the intersection, it also plans to make the speed consistent along Keene Road.

From the traffic circle west, it changes from 25 mph to 35 mph to 45 mph, Slade said. It’s considering 40 mph but more study is necessary first.

“It’s one of the biggest complaints we hear – that speed varies down that corridor,” he said.

SUBSCRIBE to Name to mail to _________________________________________ Mailing address _________________________________________ City __________________________________________________ State _____________________ Zip_________________________ Phone number __________________________________________ Email _________________________________________________ Search engine (Google)

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• Each issue is chock-full of essential business news about the Tri-City region.

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CELEBRATING

January 2021 1 Volume 20 | Issue

editor@tcjour

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Page B3

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Page B5

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January 2021 Volume 20 | Issue 1 | B1

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It is unlike most He is targeting the process to 18. The phases dized, he is is unsubsior less. contoZook Secretary of Health.Thebut apartment developmen unnamed a summer occupancy need ton’s $150,000 committed to of in loans the progress is taking reservations for loans Tri-Cities, which project will part of keeping rents t the midrange. and each Friday. $30 billion for be the higher counties are “We have made first new multifamily in the transmis-construction tends to cater now. Zook and financial The bill reserved income demographic wife intend to to Benton and Franklintogether with Yakima, tinue to work together to reduce Real Estate his “We’re really development in the locations hold onto the zone n excited about made by communityinstitutions with assets complex as an and luxury touchess with riverside new unit across our state.” & Constructioriverside offering a investment and will the South Central at this level because Columbia counties. sion of Covid-19 and by key challenge opens such and the manage it themselves. winery as is Walla graninstitutions Richland unfortunately there’s a lot of Medical Zook grew Kittitas, Walla in Vancouver billion. business “Working together” tasting room people out there up building Page B1 based on Emergency healththey are zone, said local of less than $10 single-family whose only The regions are ia lenders say for the South Central will not emerge from used for evaluating Mid-Columb

By Kristina wave of applications. ZOOK, Page Services regions Lord office said. leaders. The Tri-Cities for the new though publisher@tc governor’s B6 ready the e own. journal.biz care services, “fatigue” argument, busy less-restrictiv Phase 1 on its NOTEWORTHY They reject the move to the RY, Page A23 trend they were plenty Regions can RECOVE “I am deeply g a decreasing effect A Richland they acknowledge winery the relief bill took of infecPhase 2 by demonstratin ing room downriver has opened a tastconcerned about two-week rate a when the coronavirus l in more of 10% or federal constitutiona in hopes of expandingfrom the Tri-Cities issued 5.2 last spring. of rounds, lenders implications Barnard Griffin’s its customer base.

In the first two than $525 bilin essence new storefront shutdowns – totaling more joined a growing million loans shutdowns crushing application number of wineries I believe the under on ting up shop it supsetlion, sometimes at The Waterfront may be infringing

By Wendy government calculates couver, just Culverwell volumes. The several cherished across were both in Vaneditor@tcjou 51 million jobs.

Gala in Julythe Columbia l rights.” rnal.biz from WinePortland. ported more than to decidedly constitutiona dollars un- River Art Walk & demand led Cicotte, “It’sthe sponsorship - George F. The crushing A family-owne Page A3 canceled, leaving been a long time in the Law Firm The Cicotte d Richland said Deborah planning,” PPP LOANS, Page A13

By Wendy Culverwell expanding to company is the monBarnard, spent. notedco-owner nal.biz a new building, winery. Crawford editor@tcjour thanks to rising demand Spokesman Paul“Once Covid community.of the for its Chamber of to support the hit, we weren’t in a huge hurry.” budgeted and other mixes. gluten-free bread, cake of the Prosser fees un- ey was As members $2,500. forpandemic But the to pay renewal GF Blends will it cut a check these busito help did point Commerce struggled financial pressure, the So, made portance out the ima lot ofofsense foot production occupy a 20,000-square“These direct-to-con ated “It he said. facility on Battelle sumer opportuder pandemic-rel solution. nities forstruggling,” vard when sales, she said. found a novel Boulenesses who were construction Yakima Federal.” executive director asked Yakima Federal about “Our wraps in April, said owner Glen brand events aren’t was reliant oncontinue the chamber Call, who is John-Paul Estey allow it use sponsorwholesale tractor. Allpro moneybuthelped also when restaurants The trade business and Loan to Inc. is developing a conis to support all over itthe country which Savings and to cover dues its mission, erty closed, the propevents, events for GF Blends, this suffered,” many canceled with Call serving Among its Rob Griffin, she The winery said. ship dollars for both a minority outdoor Courtesy Amanda from members. the community. as chose to facilitate partner in the the Vancouver their daughter, left, and his wife, Cowan/The mixed-use was on organized street closures developmen team and the owed by cash-strapped Deborah Barnard, Columbian Megan Hughes, developmen to retailers as Yakima Federal t tenant. at The Waterfront pause for a such outside the proved populart because it’s The bank agreed. an interesting which The portrait in bill for two key dining, new t new Vancouver.

A5 Barnard Griffi with building will project. She Page entertainmen wished the Tri-Cities n tasting room said she S GROUPS, house space and more tap to foot the Scottish Fest The Waterfront BUSINES offered production space office events. But the is quickly becoming similar. The something the Blends to turn Prosser for GF Prosser chamber winery’s new state’s new wine-tasting gluten-free ingredients tasting room in June and the tasting opened in the in early 2020. as blended hub. Barnard & Highland Games such Rediviva building room Griffith is the seventh corn, rice, potato, Naked Winery announced W. Columbia quinoa, millet at 665 there. winery to open plans to open Way on Dec. and other grains amaranth, Another Benton in 2021.

“The interest 18. that form the into County from wineries Prosser-base basis for everything mixes d Airfield Estates, winery, Waterfront has at The crepes and fish been a really from opened a batter to pleasant breads and BARNAR The company D GRIFFIN, formed 12 years cakes.

Page B3 ago in GF BLENDS, Page B2

Architecture & Engineering

center LIGO gets visitor Nobel worthy of its science Prize-winning Page A19

forces recovery plan Inslee’s new Covid-19 coordinate on six counties to

Richland winer y opens

Business gh the pain: Cheering throu not focus members but groups lose

riverside tastin g room

Senior Times

in Vancouver

GF Blends soars on demand for gluten-free mixes

Mail to: Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business 8524 W. Gage Blvd., #A1-300 Kennewick, WA 99336

uBRIEFS Jeff Maddison to lead Goodwill of the Columbia

Goodwill Industries of the Columbia has a new director after Ken Gosney left to lead the Sacramento Goodwill in California.

Jeff Maddison, formerly director of operations, will succeed Gosney on Jan. 1.

Maddison joined the Columbia chapter of Goodwill in 2015 and is a former Lamb Weston executive.

“I appreciate the board’s confidence in me, and I’m honored to have the opportunity to lead such a great organization,” Maddison said in a statement announcing his appointment.

“I’m especially grateful to Ken Gosney for his guidance. Goodwill OTC is strong today because of his tireless work over the past six years.”

Goodwill of the Columbia served more than 5,000 people in 2019 and placed nearly 900 into jobs in the TriCities community. In the pandemic, it pivoted to support residents through housing support and job training.

Nursing association says RN mandate will cost billions

The Build Back Better Act, in deliberations in Congress, could force nursing homes to limit admissions or even shut down by mandating a registered nurse on staff 24 hours a day.

The American Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living, which supports increased staffing, said without funding, nursing homes will struggle to find and pay the added 21,000 RNs they would need. It estimates the cost at $2.5 billion. “(W)ithout funding or programs to recruit tens of thousands of more nurses, providers will be unable to fulfill

these requirements,” the AHCA/ NCAL said in a statement.

The association called on lawmakers to support the long-term care center’s efforts to attract and retain caregivers.

Registration underway for JA Bowling Classic

Junior Achievement of Washington is accepting registrations for its 25th annual JA Bowling Classic, with a “Back to the ’90s” theme. Proceeds support JA’s mission of empowering young people.

The event is Feb. 22-26 at Atomic Bowl in Richland and March 3-4 at Spare Time Lanes in Kennewick.

Covid-19 protocols will be observed.

Jan. 31 is the early registration deadline. The minimum goals are $100 for individuals and $500 for teams. Go to: secure.qgiv.com/ event/2022bowlingclassic.

Green law bans single-use utensils, condiments

A new Washington law bans Washington restaurants from automatically including single-use food service items – utensils, condiments and straws – with food orders.

The new law restricts the use of singl-use eating utensils to reduce waste and littering. Customers can request items if needed.

The law also covers cocktail picks, splash sticks, stirrers, condiment packets, sachets, sauce cups and cold cup lids (except when provided at drivethru windows or large gatherings).

Americans go through nearly 1 trillion single-use food service products each year, according to a report cited in the legislation.

Go to: bit.ly/BringYourOwnStraw.

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TO CURRENT OCCUPANT

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SENIOR TIMES • JANUARY 2022

13

The Manhattan Project needed lots of workers and no questions

By East Benton County Historical Society

The top-secret Hanford project needed workers. Lots and lots of workers.

The Manhattan Project effort to build the atomic bomb to bring a swifter victorious conclusion to World War II for the Allies, required one thing in large numbers – workers.

And they had to be hired without any knowledge of what they were building.

When a large swath of mostly desert in southeastern Washington near the small communities of Richland, Kennewick and Pasco was acquired for DuPont to build a plant, recruitment efforts went out across the nation seeking workers, particularly those in construction.

The top-secret reactor was to produce plutonium for an atomic bomb to be dropped on Japan. Of course, the ads didn’t mention that.

“War workers needed on southeastern Washington Construction Project,” read one ad placed by the War Manpower Commission.”

Recruited workers began arriving by train and other means, still oblivious to what they were building.

“We’re going out to build a summer home for Eleanor Roosevelt,” was one story circulating about the First Lady and wife of President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

A recruiting pamphlet tried to inform recruits on essentials.

“Highlights of Hanford” advised workers to bring padlocks to secure belongings in crowded barracks and “hutment living conditions.” The next most important things to bring: towels, coat hangars and a thermos bottle.

What not to bring?

Cameras or guns, it emphasized.

Another pamphlet, “Dear Anne,” said it would be hard to get better pastries anywhere.

They are “so good they’re almost in a class with what ‘mother used to make.’ ” Living quarters weren’t great but not bad, Dear Anne advised. The barracks “aren’t half as grim as they sound, but don’t expect anything palatial either.”

Unless living in trailers in a giant trailer camp, all women, even those married, lived in barracks segregated from men. Weekly rent for was $1.40 but included janitor service.

July 1944 was the peak of recruiting efforts by DuPont which had 153 recruiters on the road and had representatives in all 12 War Manpower Commission (WMC) regions in the nation.

They recruited locally at first.

Then, when Hanford was cleared to receive workers from all states except for Tennessee, which had its own recruitment needs. The Manhattan Project plant in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, was building its own uranium atomic bomb.

Even so, when World War II ended, 586 workers on the Hanford payroll were from Tennessee, WMC figures showed.

Those who agreed to Hanford employment and were traveling by train received coach fare up to $100 from where they were being recruited to Pasco.

But, they had to stay on the job at least four months and be “satisfactory” in their work ethic. Those who stayed at least seven months received return home train fare.

Any worker with more than two days unexcused absence in any one month was not considered to be doing satisfactory work.

The WMC office in Pasco, not far from the town’s train depot, processed 600 employees and up per day. At its peak, its 17 employees processed 1,108 new workers by working 13 hours a day, 7 a.m.-8 p.m., seven days a week.

Still, it was hard to get enough qualified workers and first a 48-hour work week was put in place. In September 1943 it went to 54 hours, staying until construction was done.

Washington state provided the most manpower, according to WMC statistics, with 29,762.

California was next with 13,093, followed by Missouri (7,756), Texas (7,123), Arkansas (6,448), Illinois (5,795), Minnesota (4,814), Colorado (4,656), Louisiana (4,398), Iowa (3,755), Oregon (3,315), Oklahoma (3,277), Pennsylvania (3,069), Wisconsin (2,531), Utah (2,341) and Kansas (2,289).

New Hampshire and Maine had 19 and 36 Hanford recruits, respectively.

According to the Atomic Energy Commission, 262,040 persons were interviewed by recruiters and 94,307 were hired, primarily construction workers for Hanford’s main contractor, DuPont.

Peak payroll was 45,096 workers employed on all crafts on June 21, 1944.

Most were older as efforts were made to avoid conflict with manpower needs of the armed forces, even though the three-man Selective Service Board in Benton County was left in the dark as to what was going on at Hanford.

Photo by Wendy Culverwell A Manhattan Project worker is pictured at his station as part of an exhibit about the extraordinary accomplishments at the B Reactor Museum on the Hanford site. At its peak on June 21, 1944, the Manhattan Project employed more than 45,000 people at Hanford.

Of those employed at Hanford in World War II, slightly more than half, 51%, were 38 years and older, and 75% of those 18 to 26 years old who were working at Hanford, prime ages for military service, already had received 4-F classifications, meaning they did not meet physical requirements for military service.

Some 14,000 workers at Hanford

did seek deferments from military service based on their Hanford work, and they were reviewed by a DuPont Selective Service unit it set up, and then by the Army Corps of Engineers before forwarding to a regular Selective Service Board.

The boards approved 80% and rejected 20% of the deferral applications.

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SENIOR TIMES • JANUARY 2022

Q&A

Number of employees you oversee: 1,000 + Brief background of your organization: Energy Northwest is a joint operating agency of Washington state, comprised of 27 public power member utilities from across the state, serving more than 1.5 million customers.

Energy Northwest owns and operates a diverse mix of 100% carbonfree electricity generating resources including hydro, solar, battery storage and wind projects and the thirdlargest provider of electricity in Washington – the Columbia Generating Station nuclear power facility.

The agency continually explores new generation projects to meet its members’ needs.

How did you land your current role? You are new in the position.

What is your message to the organization and the community about your priorities?

I was in the right place at the right time for many steps along my career.

But at each step, my priorities have been: Strive for excellence in all that you do; remember that everyone you meet might be in a position to help you in the future; and do everything you can to make your crew/team/peers individually successful.

I came to Energy Northwest as the maintenance manager for Columbia Generating Station in 2013 and held various leadership roles including plant general manager and site vice president.

I became CEO in August 2021.

I’m also a 28-year Navy subma-

BOB SCHUETZ CEO Energy Northwest

rine veteran. I had the honor to command the fast attack submarine USS Hyman G. Rickover (SSN 709) and Submarine Squadron Seventeen at the Bangor submarine base in Kitsap County.

I retired from service as the deputy commander and chief of staff for the U.S. Pacific Fleet Submarine Force.

Most everything I learned about leadership I learned from my Navy experiences.

What role is Energy Northwest playing to meet climate change goals?

What is one characteristic that you believe every leader should possess?

Humility.

What is the biggest challenge facing business owners/ managers today?

In addition to safe, reliable and cost-effective operation of our current clean energy generating assets, Energy Northwest is looking to assist our member utilities in meeting the 2045 goal by expanding the clean power we can offer our members.

The recent commissioning of the Horn Rapids Solar and Battery Storage project, initial stages of development for a 155MWe Ruby Flats solar project and the expansion of electric vehicle charging stations in the state through our EVITA project are some of the strides we’re making.

On any day, I would say costefficient operation of your business to make sure you can attract customers.

In the current climate it is starting to become more difficult to attract and retain the talent we need to be successful. There needs to be a never-ending focus on workforce development – starting as early as elementary and secondary schools.

Finally, the challenges posed by Covid-19 and vaccine mandates have the potential to exacerbate the workforce planning and development issues.

Why should the Tri-Cities care about Energy Northwest and its role in our community?

If you had a magic wand, what would you change about your industry/field?

I think most everyone would agree that humans are having some impact on our climate. As a provider of 100% carbon-free electricity, we will play an important role to help Washington achieve 100% carbonfree, clean power by 2045.

I would educate the public on what nuclear power is and what it’s not.

Nuclear power is clean, safe, responsible electricity. It provides more than half of America’s carbonfree electricity, it’s full time, and doesn’t create huge volumes of radioactive waste. We also get confused with the cleanup efforts at the U.S. Department of Energy’s

Bob Schuetz

Hanford site. We’re neighbors, but our mission and purpose are very different.

What advice would you give someone going into a leadership position for the first time?

Treat everyone as you would want to be treated; the small things really do matter; make sure you take the time to understand your own strengths and weaknesses; end every sentence with a question mark; and always be the last to speak.

Who are your role models or mentors?

In my career I have had dozens of mentors, but one from the Navy and one from the nuclear industry who have been invaluable to my development over the years. Both very rarely tell me what it is I need to do to solve a problem or capitalize on an opportunity, but rather they have a knack for knowing the right questions to ask and will guide me to coming up with my own solution to uSCHUETZ, Page 15

SENIOR TIMES • JANUARY 2022 SCHUETZ, From page 14

a problem.

Make it possible for them to be successful with the knowledge, skills, tools, resources and oversight they need. Listen – then talk.

Celebrate success. When corrections and improvements are necessary, be fair. Communicate the ‘what’ and ‘why.’

Finally, get out of their way!

How did you decide to pursue the career that you are working in today?

It is a long story, but it came down to basic hard work, networking and timing.

I didn’t plan on a career in the Navy or becoming a CEO. It started with needing Navy ROTC to fund my college education, Navy training around a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and switching my studies to nuclear engineering.

After initial nuclear training, I asked for an assignment on an operating attack submarine on the west coast, but got an overhaul missile submarine on the east coast. At least that was where I met my wife.

I had always planned to leave the Navy after my ROTC commitment was over, but at that point I had a young wife, a tiny baby and it

seemed a bad time to transition.

Follow-on assignments led to upward mobility in the Navy.

When I retired from the Navy, I transitioned to inspecting civilian nuclear power plants and then landed a leadership position at Columbia.

Ten years later I was honored with a promotion to CEO. How do you measure success in your workplace?

The nuclear industry measures itself constantly, with monthly performance indicators where we compare ourselves to our industry peers.

We are regulated by many different agencies, including the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, which gives us an annual performance report.

But perhaps the best indicator is our annual employee engagement survey – if our employees are happy coming to work and feel empowered, everything else will fall into place.

What do you consider your leadership style to be?

Facilitative/intent based.

How do you balance work and family life?

I try to carve out dedicated time for my wife and family, and I have

several things we do together.

I use up my personal time. On weekends I get up at my regular wake up time and work in my home office until my wife gets up, then try and devote the rest of the day to family. I also have an end of the day personal reflection routine where I ask myself five questions about my day.

One of those questions is, “What did I do for my family today?” It might just be a phone call to one of my daughters on the way home, or a quick text to my wife that I’m thinking of her – but the question keeps me honest every day.

What do you like to do when you are not at work?

I enjoy reading and always have a book in progress.

I try and alternate between leadership/self-improvement and something fun.

Right now I’m reading “Barbarians at the Gate: The Fall of RJR Nabisco.” I enjoy hiking and biking. I’ve made two attempts at Mt. Rainier, and recently bought eBikes with my wife and have over 1,500 miles on it.

Fairly recently we’ve taken up RVing. I love to sail, but don’t have a boat – fortunately my son-in-law in

San Diego does! I also work out at Orangetheory Fitness about three days a week.

What’s your best time management strategy?

I am a dedicated practitioner of David Allen’s “Getting Things Done.” The outward indicator of that is I leave work every day with an empty inbox.

Best tip to relieve stress?

Exercise in any form (hiking, biking or the gym).

What’s your favorite podcast?

Most-used app? Or favorite website? Favorite book?

Book: Ian W. Toll’s “Six Frigates: The Epic History of the Founding of the U.S. Navy” Book: Patrick O’Brien’s AubreyMaturin series Book: “Getting Things Done,” by David Allen Favorite Podcast: “This American Life” Most Used App: Newsreader Do you have a personal mantra, phrase or quote you like to use?

Don’t mistake activity for progress.

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SENIOR TIMES • JANUARY 2022

RSA recommits to being a community for all seniors

The specific focus of this year’s 26th annual general membership meeting of the Richland Seniors Association was whether and how the RSA should continue into the future.

The meeting first reviewed the purpose and current status of the RSA in the post-Covid world.

Almost a quarter of its 387 members participated in person at the Richland Community Center or via Zoom online on Dec. 17.

The majority of those attending expressed the desire to continue. And a promising number of those in attendance indicated their willingness to participate with ideas and volunteer help to transform intention into action.

Programs for 2022 will be aligned with these guidelines and announced.

What is RSA?

The RSA is a volunteer nonprofit founded in 1995 with a mission of finding ways to improve the quality of life for Tri-City seniors. Although

uBRIEFS Gov. Jay Inslee delays longterm care tax collection

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee has delayed the start of assessing premiums for the Washington Cares Fund, a new program that assesses a tax on earned income to pay for future longterm care costs.

The delay will give the Legislature time to address concerns about assessing the tax on nonresidents, people who are close to retirement and won’t benefit and other subgroups. A coalition of businesses and other groups called on the governor the delay the implementation.

Washington employers were slated to begin collecting 58 cents on every $100 earned or about $300 per year for a worker earning $50,000 per year.

Payroll deductions were to begin in January. Employers are not expected to begin collecting, the governor said in a Dec. 17 statement. Employers could begin collecting the tax though, the statement noted.

Matt Boehnke, retired Army officer, seeks Senate seat

Washington Rep. Matt Boehnke is running for the Eighth District Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Sharon Brown, a fellow Kennewick Republican.

Brown is not seeking re-election.

Boehnke is a retired Army officer, teaches cybersecurity at Columbia Basin College and served on the Kennewick City Council before seek-

often mistaken by its name as being only for Richland residents, the RSA serves the entire TriCities, as well David Everett as surrounding Richland Senior communities.

Association Its directors and members GUEST COLUMN include residents of Kennewick, Pasco, West Seattle, Benton City, Grandview and Walla Walla. Membership is $10 per year.

Members receive a monthly newsletter and opportunities to participate in or volunteer to help with educational programs, trips and tours, visitation of isolated seniors and monthly Zoom trivia and bingo games. As Covid-19 restrictions ease, traditional dances and potlucks will resume.

The RSA also is the grateful beneficiary of support from local businesses and agencies, including paring his current seat representing the Eighth District in Olympia. He is serving his third term.

Boehnke and his wife, Dawn, are longtime Tri-Citians with two grown sons. He served in the Army for 21 years and retired as a lieutenant colonel.

No other candidates had filed to run for Brown’s seat with the state’s Public Disclosure Commission as of Dec. 20.

Filing week is in May. The August primary will determine which two candidates advance to the November general election.

ticularly the city of Richland, HAPO Community Credit Union and Active4Life.

Seniors are a community

The U.S. population of people 65 years of age grew to 54 million in 2021, from 34.7 million in 1995. It is now 16.5% of the population.

Projections are that there will be 80 million seniors in 2050.

Do seniors recognize their potential and need to interact as a community of people who truly care about one another and finding ways to guard against the dangerous consequences of both physical and psychological isolation?

Isolation is the equivalent of smoking 15 cigarettes a day.

Since the birth of the internet in January 1983, the dynamics of social interaction have substantially changed. The ability to find sources for something of specific interest have changed from meeting with friends or groups to utilizing Google searches, texts, emails, and cellphone He served in the Navy from 1941-45.

Don’t fall for gift card scam, IRS says

The Internal Revenue Service is urging taxpayers to avoid being scammed by fraudsters who offer to settle tax issues with gift cards.

The federal revenue agency won’t ask for – or accept – gift cards as payment for a tax bill.

The most common way scammers

or Zoom calls.

As wonderful as these technological tools are, they contribute to isolation, distancing and ever-increasingly impersonal interaction.

Within this context, the RSA board asked the membership to engage in a self-assessment of the RSA family as part of the annual meeting.

More than a mere legal entity, the RSA is a virtual family.

It is a platform that serves individuals who care about not only their own needs and interests, but also the needs and interests of others in their family – the senior community.

The RSA invites and welcomes any seniors in the Tri-City region to join the family. Seniors for the RSA are not defined by age. Any mature adult is welcome.

To find out more, email RSASrAssn@gmail.com or call toll free at 800-595-4070. David Everett is president of the Richland Seniors Association, which serves seniors in all community. request gift cards is over the phone through a government impersonation scam. However, they also will request gift cards by sending a text message, email or through social media. The IRS generally mails bills to taxpayers who owe money. It does not call.

Scammers will attempt to instill fear in their targets with threats of penalties, jail and the loss of driver’s licenses, business licenses and more.

Go to: irs.gov/compliance/criminalinvestigation/tax-fraud-alerts.

Tri-City Herald co-founder dies at 102

A co-founder of the Tri-City Herald died Nov. 14 at age 102.

Robert “Bob” Philip was one week short of his 103rd birthday.

He worked in the import-export business and was raising a family in Seattle when he and co-worker Glenn Lee decided to start their own import business called Philip and Lee. It led them in 1947 to the Tri-Cities and to buy the Pasco Weekly newspaper.

Shortly thereafter they turned it into a daily paper and called it the Tri-City Herald, according to Philip’s obituary.

In 1979, they sold the paper to The McClatchy Co. During his three decades in the TriCities he was involved in the Kiwanis Club and as a co-founder of the TriCity Nuclear Industrial Council, serving as president from 1963-82.

Philip grew up in Tacoma and attended the University of Washington.

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